Liverpool’s Xabi Alonso says he’s ready and raring to go if Rafa Benitez wants to select him tomorrow night in Turin.
Alonso was on the bench against Juventus last week in the first leg of the Champions League qualifier, but wasn’t risked by Benitez. Since then he’s played 45 minutes for the reserves (last Wednesday), and was kept back at Melwood over the weekend in order to bring his fitness levels up.
Steven Gerrard and Dietmar Hamman are both out for the game with injuries, and so Benitez has to choose two out of three from Igor Biscan, John Welsh and Xabi Alonso for the central midfield roles.
Alsonso would probably be first choice of the three if fully fit, and he feels he’s fit enough: "I am fit, I have had some good training sessions over the weekend and I am ready to play against Juventus if I am required. Of course losing Steven Gerrard is a desperate blow but I am ready to play if I am needed. "
He continued, "I missed the Manchester City game to get extra training sessions in over the weekend and that has allowed me to be prepared for the Champions League game. I haven’t played for a while but I am fit enough to feature in the game and I am confident I will come through it. Even though it is a game of great importance I feel physically ready to play against Juventus. I am fully recuperated and I felt very comfortable with both my game and overall fitness for the reserves last week.
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It’s a big game tomorrow night, and Alonso wants to be part of it, "I can play against Juve and I want to play. I am keen to give my all to help Liverpool reach the semi-final. Our first leg performance against Juve proved we can beat anybody in Europe. If we get through against Juventus I honestly think Liverpool can win the Champions League. Last year Porto did it, so why not Liverpool this year? We have a very good team and are capable of beating any side in Europe."